1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:15,187 Speaker 2: And play has officially been suspended for the day at 4 00:00:15,227 --> 00:00:18,627 Speaker 2: the US Golf Open due to dangerous weather and darkness. 5 00:00:18,707 --> 00:00:22,627 Speaker 2: Thirteen players haven't quite completed their second rounds. Among them 6 00:00:22,707 --> 00:00:26,827 Speaker 2: is the currently sixth placed South African Thriston Lawrence, who's 7 00:00:26,867 --> 00:00:30,147 Speaker 2: on the final hole. Sam Burns leads by one shot. 8 00:00:30,187 --> 00:00:32,747 Speaker 2: He's three under par after firing the low round of 9 00:00:32,787 --> 00:00:36,307 Speaker 2: the Championship a brilliant five under sixty five. Ryan Fox, 10 00:00:36,347 --> 00:00:38,707 Speaker 2: of course, beat Sam Burns in a playoff at the 11 00:00:38,747 --> 00:00:41,267 Speaker 2: Canadian Open last week. The key we is set to 12 00:00:41,267 --> 00:00:44,947 Speaker 2: make the cut. Ryan Fox is five overpass so the 13 00:00:44,987 --> 00:00:48,627 Speaker 2: cut is projected to be seven over. Rory McElroy going 14 00:00:48,627 --> 00:00:50,427 Speaker 2: to be there as well, but he's six over. Scottish 15 00:00:50,427 --> 00:00:53,027 Speaker 2: Sheffler four over, so that gives you an indication of 16 00:00:53,067 --> 00:00:57,747 Speaker 2: the course. Someone who won't be there, veteran Phil Mickelson. 17 00:00:59,747 --> 00:01:02,987 Speaker 3: Just mess It would have been his twenty seventh nade 18 00:01:03,067 --> 00:01:06,747 Speaker 3: cut at the US Open, tying in with Sam Snee 19 00:01:06,947 --> 00:01:09,827 Speaker 3: and Hale Irwin for the second most. 20 00:01:12,387 --> 00:01:14,827 Speaker 4: But as it stands right now, Nicholson is on the 21 00:01:14,907 --> 00:01:21,227 Speaker 4: outside looking in and will that be his last trip 22 00:01:21,267 --> 00:01:24,667 Speaker 4: around as a competitor at a US Open. 23 00:01:25,467 --> 00:01:30,147 Speaker 3: What a career for Phil Nicholson. Truly, the only thing 24 00:01:30,187 --> 00:01:33,347 Speaker 3: missing on his resume is the United States Open. He 25 00:01:33,387 --> 00:01:37,307 Speaker 3: has done so much in this sport, and you are 26 00:01:37,347 --> 00:01:41,947 Speaker 3: looking at a man who's most likely walking off the 27 00:01:42,027 --> 00:01:44,667 Speaker 3: course at a US Open for the last time in 28 00:01:44,747 --> 00:01:45,307 Speaker 3: his career. 29 00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:48,147 Speaker 2: Yes, a bit a swite for Phil Mickelson, as the 30 00:01:48,227 --> 00:01:51,107 Speaker 2: old wise is grime, I guys has been watching on 31 00:01:51,147 --> 00:01:54,507 Speaker 2: with interest and analyzing things. He joins US now grime. 32 00:01:54,627 --> 00:01:57,947 Speaker 2: Just three players in the rid numbers. Could this tournament 33 00:01:58,027 --> 00:01:59,427 Speaker 2: be one with an overpass score? 34 00:02:01,267 --> 00:02:04,427 Speaker 5: Well, it was back in two thousand and seven Jayson 35 00:02:04,427 --> 00:02:08,507 Speaker 5: Wynn Anghel Cabra won the US Open with a score 36 00:02:08,547 --> 00:02:11,627 Speaker 5: of five over pars, so that wouldn't be surprising at all. 37 00:02:12,107 --> 00:02:15,787 Speaker 5: I think the only thing that might actually change that is, 38 00:02:15,907 --> 00:02:20,627 Speaker 5: as you mentioned, torrential rain late in the day, storms overnight, 39 00:02:21,147 --> 00:02:22,987 Speaker 5: so there will be more rain, but we don't know 40 00:02:23,027 --> 00:02:25,947 Speaker 5: how much that will soften the course up, how to 41 00:02:25,987 --> 00:02:29,627 Speaker 5: continue to get firmer and faster. I think the odds 42 00:02:29,627 --> 00:02:34,187 Speaker 5: on were it even par or worse, would win. But 43 00:02:34,307 --> 00:02:37,027 Speaker 5: now I think this opens the door for a few 44 00:02:37,027 --> 00:02:39,787 Speaker 5: more guys to hold some fairways. And if you can 45 00:02:39,787 --> 00:02:43,227 Speaker 5: hold the fairways, you can hit good shots into the greens. 46 00:02:43,427 --> 00:02:46,347 Speaker 5: They will definitely be softer and a bit slower. So 47 00:02:46,427 --> 00:02:48,867 Speaker 5: I wouldn't mind betting Bilby a couple of low scores 48 00:02:48,867 --> 00:02:52,387 Speaker 5: out there tomorrow that will really stir things up heading 49 00:02:52,387 --> 00:02:56,427 Speaker 5: into the final round, and possibly Scotty Cheffler or John 50 00:02:56,547 --> 00:03:01,227 Speaker 5: Rahm or Brooks kept Ger or Jordan Steif. Maybe the 51 00:03:01,307 --> 00:03:04,387 Speaker 5: guys that post low numbers that come from behind. 52 00:03:04,907 --> 00:03:07,227 Speaker 2: Give alluded to it there. But what does make this 53 00:03:07,427 --> 00:03:09,587 Speaker 2: course so tough? 54 00:03:10,587 --> 00:03:16,027 Speaker 5: Well, first of all, it slopes the fairways off and 55 00:03:16,107 --> 00:03:18,987 Speaker 5: slope left to right to left. You're not hitting at 56 00:03:18,987 --> 00:03:23,667 Speaker 5: a flat target. The greens are incredibly firm and fast 57 00:03:24,547 --> 00:03:28,467 Speaker 5: run at speeds even when amateurs are playing club events 58 00:03:28,747 --> 00:03:32,107 Speaker 5: at eighteen Would you believe they've actually run them when 59 00:03:32,147 --> 00:03:34,387 Speaker 5: you consider that we put on greens that are about 60 00:03:34,467 --> 00:03:37,467 Speaker 5: ten and the PGA two are puts on greens about 61 00:03:37,467 --> 00:03:42,827 Speaker 5: twelve and Augusta maybe thirteen, so they are severe. And 62 00:03:42,867 --> 00:03:46,427 Speaker 5: then you toss in the bunkering, which is very penal, 63 00:03:47,067 --> 00:03:49,947 Speaker 5: and put five and a half inch rough on the 64 00:03:49,987 --> 00:03:53,227 Speaker 5: golf course. So it's a nightmare. If you miss the 65 00:03:53,227 --> 00:03:56,907 Speaker 5: fairway or you miss the green, you're in rough up 66 00:03:56,947 --> 00:03:59,747 Speaker 5: to your ankles just trying to hack it out to 67 00:03:59,787 --> 00:04:03,067 Speaker 5: get into the bunkers. Often you're impeded from going forward 68 00:04:03,467 --> 00:04:06,947 Speaker 5: as much as you want to. So every single shot 69 00:04:07,027 --> 00:04:10,147 Speaker 5: on this golf course is a challenge and it just 70 00:04:10,507 --> 00:04:14,107 Speaker 5: wears it people, grinds them down. You've seen even Scottie 71 00:04:14,147 --> 00:04:17,827 Speaker 5: Scheffler lose his temper and pound his club down after 72 00:04:17,907 --> 00:04:21,227 Speaker 5: hitting an indifferent shot. Rory McElroy smashed one of the 73 00:04:21,267 --> 00:04:24,787 Speaker 5: team markers, so there's all sorts of weird things going on. 74 00:04:25,067 --> 00:04:28,627 Speaker 5: Even Shane Lowry picked up his ball on the green 75 00:04:28,667 --> 00:04:31,587 Speaker 5: to clean it and forgot to market because he was 76 00:04:31,627 --> 00:04:34,907 Speaker 5: so frazzled in his head. So it just gets to you. 77 00:04:35,427 --> 00:04:40,587 Speaker 5: And it is recognized as America's hardest golf course. The 78 00:04:40,667 --> 00:04:44,667 Speaker 5: members are proud of that, and there's a very good 79 00:04:44,747 --> 00:04:46,907 Speaker 5: argument that it might be the hardest in the world 80 00:04:47,067 --> 00:04:47,907 Speaker 5: day in, day out. 81 00:04:48,827 --> 00:04:51,307 Speaker 2: And isn't that what I guess many of us would 82 00:04:51,307 --> 00:04:54,747 Speaker 2: like to see Graham, the world's best golfers challenged by 83 00:04:54,787 --> 00:04:56,267 Speaker 2: the world's toughest golf course. 84 00:04:58,387 --> 00:05:01,627 Speaker 5: Well, there's two schools of thought. One is that why 85 00:05:01,627 --> 00:05:05,667 Speaker 5: would you embarrass these players who are the elite golfers 86 00:05:05,707 --> 00:05:08,107 Speaker 5: in the world, turning them into, you know, looking like 87 00:05:08,187 --> 00:05:12,027 Speaker 5: club golfers. And the USGA says, we're not trying to 88 00:05:12,187 --> 00:05:17,387 Speaker 5: punish good players, We're just trying to identify them. So 89 00:05:17,467 --> 00:05:20,667 Speaker 5: you can take the argument either way you want. But 90 00:05:20,787 --> 00:05:23,667 Speaker 5: if you turn up at the US Open, particularly some 91 00:05:23,787 --> 00:05:27,747 Speaker 5: of the harder courses, this one in particular, you can 92 00:05:27,867 --> 00:05:32,227 Speaker 5: expect a grinding experience. There's nobody that bounces out of 93 00:05:32,307 --> 00:05:33,907 Speaker 5: here full of energy. Let me tell you that. 94 00:05:36,187 --> 00:05:38,427 Speaker 2: I guess another way of asking the question, if this 95 00:05:38,707 --> 00:05:41,587 Speaker 2: wasn't a major, how many of these guys would front 96 00:05:41,667 --> 00:05:43,867 Speaker 2: up for this tournament. 97 00:05:45,627 --> 00:05:48,547 Speaker 5: Well, there are some guys who like a challenge, so 98 00:05:49,627 --> 00:05:51,827 Speaker 5: you would find that you get a pretty decent fuddle. 99 00:05:51,867 --> 00:05:54,067 Speaker 5: But there'd be other people that just couldn't be boved 100 00:05:54,067 --> 00:05:57,587 Speaker 5: because you know, they know, they just don't have the 101 00:05:57,667 --> 00:06:00,627 Speaker 5: game to deal with it. But the US Open is, 102 00:06:01,427 --> 00:06:03,547 Speaker 5: you know, it is the mental grind of the year. 103 00:06:04,307 --> 00:06:08,507 Speaker 5: The Masters is spring time in America, the launch of 104 00:06:08,507 --> 00:06:11,467 Speaker 5: the official golf season, best presented golf course in the 105 00:06:11,507 --> 00:06:15,267 Speaker 5: world every year. The PGA is a very fair championship. 106 00:06:15,307 --> 00:06:18,147 Speaker 5: I would say as a major. The British Open is 107 00:06:18,187 --> 00:06:22,867 Speaker 5: still raw and blustery and played on the Lynx courses 108 00:06:22,907 --> 00:06:25,347 Speaker 5: on the ocean, and the weather can be a big factor, 109 00:06:25,667 --> 00:06:29,347 Speaker 5: and the US Open is just sheer hell and it's 110 00:06:29,387 --> 00:06:30,507 Speaker 5: four days of grinding. 111 00:06:31,627 --> 00:06:34,107 Speaker 2: Ryan Fox is there, of course, and he's saving a 112 00:06:34,147 --> 00:06:35,867 Speaker 2: wonderful time of things, as we all know, with a 113 00:06:35,867 --> 00:06:38,387 Speaker 2: couple of wins in the last month or so. Five over, 114 00:06:38,507 --> 00:06:41,467 Speaker 2: he's probably a bit far back to contend. What would 115 00:06:41,507 --> 00:06:43,987 Speaker 2: be a good result for him in rounds three and four. 116 00:06:45,627 --> 00:06:47,867 Speaker 5: Well, I don't think he is too far back to contend. 117 00:06:49,067 --> 00:06:52,467 Speaker 5: I think with this rain and if they get more overnight, 118 00:06:52,507 --> 00:06:56,747 Speaker 5: I mean it was torrential belting down that is definitely 119 00:06:56,747 --> 00:06:58,667 Speaker 5: going to soften up the course, which is going to 120 00:06:58,667 --> 00:07:02,347 Speaker 5: make it play differently from the first two days. Now, 121 00:07:02,627 --> 00:07:04,187 Speaker 5: if you hit it in the rough, it's going to 122 00:07:04,227 --> 00:07:06,307 Speaker 5: be bad or worse because the ruff's going to be 123 00:07:06,827 --> 00:07:10,027 Speaker 5: high and even more juicy. But if you can keep 124 00:07:10,027 --> 00:07:12,027 Speaker 5: it in play in a softer fair way helps you 125 00:07:12,107 --> 00:07:14,747 Speaker 5: do that. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if we 126 00:07:14,787 --> 00:07:17,227 Speaker 5: see a couple of sixty five or sixty six is 127 00:07:17,307 --> 00:07:20,667 Speaker 5: there and really turn this thing on its head and 128 00:07:21,107 --> 00:07:25,227 Speaker 5: I would say any player from plus five on going 129 00:07:25,267 --> 00:07:28,067 Speaker 5: into tomorrow's round if conditions hold up the way I 130 00:07:28,187 --> 00:07:32,227 Speaker 5: just describe is not without a chance because the players 131 00:07:32,227 --> 00:07:35,747 Speaker 5: that are under par at the moment, Burns, JJ Spawn 132 00:07:35,947 --> 00:07:39,467 Speaker 5: and Victor Holin, none of those are one major championships 133 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:43,027 Speaker 5: perform This is new territory for them. Holin has performed 134 00:07:43,067 --> 00:07:45,627 Speaker 5: well in the past and has won big events on 135 00:07:45,667 --> 00:07:48,707 Speaker 5: the PGA too, but his game is very much a 136 00:07:48,827 --> 00:07:53,227 Speaker 5: daily consideration. He's very erratic at this stage of his career, 137 00:07:53,467 --> 00:07:55,947 Speaker 5: so there's not a lot of experience on top of 138 00:07:55,947 --> 00:07:58,227 Speaker 5: the leaderboard. So you can bet the guys like chef 139 00:07:58,307 --> 00:08:01,747 Speaker 5: For at plus four, John Ramm at plus four and 140 00:08:02,347 --> 00:08:05,467 Speaker 5: others like kept Her at plus two are going in 141 00:08:05,547 --> 00:08:08,627 Speaker 5: with a lot of high hopes into that third round. 142 00:08:09,347 --> 00:08:13,947 Speaker 2: It makes Sam Burn's second round astonishing, doesn't it. Sixty five? 143 00:08:14,027 --> 00:08:16,507 Speaker 2: You mentioned they might be sixty five once the weather 144 00:08:16,547 --> 00:08:19,947 Speaker 2: plays apart, but to shoot sixty five today, that's some round, 145 00:08:19,987 --> 00:08:20,667 Speaker 2: isn't it. 146 00:08:21,987 --> 00:08:22,187 Speaker 1: Yeah. 147 00:08:22,467 --> 00:08:25,507 Speaker 5: I like Sam Burns a lot. His best friends with 148 00:08:25,587 --> 00:08:28,387 Speaker 5: Scottish Scheffler, and you know, gets over shattered in that 149 00:08:28,507 --> 00:08:32,547 Speaker 5: relation relationship. Although he has beaten Chefler in a PGA 150 00:08:32,627 --> 00:08:35,707 Speaker 5: Tour event before. He is the number one putter on 151 00:08:35,707 --> 00:08:38,467 Speaker 5: the US Tour this year. That's why he's where he is. 152 00:08:38,947 --> 00:08:41,707 Speaker 5: If he can keep the ball in play, he's one 153 00:08:41,747 --> 00:08:44,107 Speaker 5: of the guys that I won't say he's comfortable, but 154 00:08:44,147 --> 00:08:46,147 Speaker 5: he's one of the guys that can deal with the 155 00:08:46,227 --> 00:08:49,827 Speaker 5: speed and undulation of these grants, which he showed with 156 00:08:49,867 --> 00:08:52,187 Speaker 5: that sixty five today. Now it'll be hard to follow 157 00:08:52,227 --> 00:08:54,867 Speaker 5: that up for him tomorrow. As I said, the pressure 158 00:08:54,907 --> 00:08:57,947 Speaker 5: is going to really be on. But he deserves to 159 00:08:57,987 --> 00:08:59,987 Speaker 5: be where he is, there's no question about that. 160 00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:02,707 Speaker 2: And Phil Michol said, we heard some audio there before 161 00:09:02,747 --> 00:09:07,827 Speaker 2: of him missing the cut. This will be it for him. 162 00:09:06,427 --> 00:09:13,267 Speaker 5: Well fifty five on Sunday here, which is Father's Day 163 00:09:13,387 --> 00:09:18,107 Speaker 5: in the United States. His exemptions have run out. His 164 00:09:18,267 --> 00:09:21,707 Speaker 5: last exemption for this event was when he won THEA 165 00:09:22,067 --> 00:09:25,387 Speaker 5: the PGA Championship, what was it five years ago, just 166 00:09:25,427 --> 00:09:29,667 Speaker 5: before he went to Live. So he's facing either a 167 00:09:29,747 --> 00:09:33,427 Speaker 5: special invite from the USCA, and they'd been asked about 168 00:09:33,467 --> 00:09:35,267 Speaker 5: that and they said, well, we prefer him to try 169 00:09:35,307 --> 00:09:38,867 Speaker 5: and qualify, So that's his other path because winning on 170 00:09:38,907 --> 00:09:40,987 Speaker 5: the Live Tour doesn't get you in the US Open, 171 00:09:41,027 --> 00:09:44,107 Speaker 5: but he can go to Open qualifying and try and 172 00:09:44,107 --> 00:09:46,627 Speaker 5: get him that way, or he might just say, look, 173 00:09:46,987 --> 00:09:49,947 Speaker 5: I've played what is it, thirty one of them or 174 00:09:49,947 --> 00:09:53,307 Speaker 5: something or other, been runner up six times. It's not 175 00:09:53,427 --> 00:09:56,947 Speaker 5: in my destiny. That'll be it. So it'll be his decision. 176 00:09:57,147 --> 00:09:58,747 Speaker 5: But it's not going to be easy for him to 177 00:09:58,787 --> 00:10:00,747 Speaker 5: get him now, because he's either going to have to 178 00:10:00,747 --> 00:10:04,547 Speaker 5: get lucky or work all the way through qualifying events. 179 00:10:04,867 --> 00:10:08,027 Speaker 2: All right, Graham, always appreciate your analysis and your insight. 180 00:10:08,067 --> 00:10:11,147 Speaker 2: That's great. Magas joining us to run an eye over 181 00:10:11,187 --> 00:10:14,427 Speaker 2: the first couple of rounds of the US Open at 182 00:10:14,467 --> 00:10:20,307 Speaker 2: the very very challenging Oakmont Course in Pennsylvania. Play officially 183 00:10:20,307 --> 00:10:22,987 Speaker 2: suspended for the day due to dangerous weather and darkness. 184 00:10:23,027 --> 00:10:26,147 Speaker 2: Sam Burns, we just talked about their leeds by one shot, 185 00:10:26,187 --> 00:10:29,267 Speaker 2: three under. He shot a sixty five in a second rounder. 186 00:10:29,627 --> 00:10:34,307 Speaker 2: Here is his philosophy on on taming the savage set 187 00:10:34,427 --> 00:10:35,387 Speaker 2: up at Oakmont. 188 00:10:35,947 --> 00:10:37,587 Speaker 6: You know, for this golf course, you really just have 189 00:10:37,667 --> 00:10:40,147 Speaker 6: to free it up. It's too hard to try to 190 00:10:40,187 --> 00:10:42,787 Speaker 6: guide it around here, and you're gonna hit some of 191 00:10:42,827 --> 00:10:44,627 Speaker 6: the rough, You're gonna hit someone in some bad spots, 192 00:10:44,907 --> 00:10:47,187 Speaker 6: you know, you might as well do it authority. Yeah, 193 00:10:47,267 --> 00:10:48,507 Speaker 6: it's a a fun weekend. 194 00:10:48,747 --> 00:10:50,707 Speaker 2: Yeah, and fun is one way of describing it. He 195 00:10:50,747 --> 00:10:55,227 Speaker 2: knows he's not safe, Sam Burns at this legendarily tough course. 196 00:10:55,307 --> 00:10:57,907 Speaker 6: I mean, there's no just kind of give me hale. 197 00:10:57,947 --> 00:10:59,827 Speaker 6: There's no haul where you can just kind of get 198 00:10:59,907 --> 00:11:01,507 Speaker 6: up there and just hit. It acquires a lot of 199 00:11:01,507 --> 00:11:04,267 Speaker 6: focus on every shot. Every shot is difficult, you know, 200 00:11:04,307 --> 00:11:06,067 Speaker 6: it's just pretty taxing. 201 00:11:06,387 --> 00:11:09,107 Speaker 2: That is Sam Burns. Who Ryan Fox beating that playoff 202 00:11:09,347 --> 00:11:12,707 Speaker 2: last weekend at the Canadian Open. So Ryan Fox will 203 00:11:12,787 --> 00:11:15,827 Speaker 2: make the cut. It is projected to be seven over. 204 00:11:16,507 --> 00:11:20,507 Speaker 2: He is five over the card after his first two rounds. 205 00:11:20,507 --> 00:11:23,507 Speaker 2: He shot a seventy two yesterday. That's two over seventy 206 00:11:23,547 --> 00:11:25,627 Speaker 2: three today. Just have a quick look at his round 207 00:11:25,627 --> 00:11:27,707 Speaker 2: today and see how it played out. So he had 208 00:11:28,787 --> 00:11:32,987 Speaker 2: bogie's on one, two and six, Ryan Fox, but then 209 00:11:33,067 --> 00:11:37,307 Speaker 2: birdie ten, another bogie at eleven, birdie at thirteen, bogie 210 00:11:37,347 --> 00:11:40,627 Speaker 2: at fourteen, birdie at fifteen, and the bogie at the last. 211 00:11:40,907 --> 00:11:45,547 Speaker 2: So very much a tailor of the tape as far 212 00:11:45,667 --> 00:11:50,267 Speaker 2: as the as far as this golf course is concerned. 213 00:11:50,267 --> 00:11:53,547 Speaker 2: But as Graham said, maybe he's not too far back 214 00:11:53,587 --> 00:11:57,547 Speaker 2: to contend anybody within seven or eight shots. With the 215 00:11:58,627 --> 00:12:01,427 Speaker 2: weather coming and maybe things softening up a bit, who knows, 216 00:12:01,787 --> 00:12:03,547 Speaker 2: So look forward to seeing how Ryan Fox goes. He's 217 00:12:03,547 --> 00:12:06,947 Speaker 2: playing the weekend at a major It's a pretty good 218 00:12:06,987 --> 00:12:08,587 Speaker 2: sekend in the box, isn't it. 219 00:12:09,587 --> 00:12:12,747 Speaker 1: For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 220 00:12:12,867 --> 00:12:16,147 Speaker 1: to News Talks it B Weekends from midday, or follow 221 00:12:16,187 --> 00:12:17,787 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.